That is a wonderful gift.
with no IS there is no problem, as you said he can use a bean bag (Turn off motor) and get great shots. Remember until recently IS never existed. People actually took wonderful shots with out IS.
Higher shutter speeds with a bit higher ISO will overcome a lot.
Disregard the rich naysayers.
You have a wonderful gift for your friend that many people would love to have and will take wonderful photos if your friend does their part with composition etc. and good camera handling practices.
Have the friend join UHH and send some photos with that wonderful new rig.

Hello! I’m looking for some advice. I have a friend that lives in Africa and is a safari guide. He has tons of opportunity to take incredible photos, but has never had a “real camera”, only his phone.

I have an old Canon Rebel T2i I plan to give him, and was looking for a decent lens to pair it with. I found the Sigma 50-500, (I wanted him to have ONE lens with as much range as possible), it’s the Sigma Ex 50-500mm 4-6.3 APO lens for Canon (NOT OS).

After talking with the amazing woman selling it, and telling her why I wanted it, she ended up just giving it to me which was so awesome and generous!!

My question: the camera doesn’t have OS, the lens doesn’t have OS, is this THAT much of an issue? He will likely use bean bags on the roof of his truck. Or, if it IS an issue, what is the most affordable canon camera body that does have OS? I was looking at the T5 and T7, but I don’t know much about them.

I just want to give him a solid set up because - 1) he’s never had one 2) he will likely not have another one for a long time and 3) he won’t have send back/repair options.

What do you think? My budget for this is not great, so I’m not looking for the newest, nicest, just something that’s good and has what he needs :)

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hello! I’m looking for some advice. I have a friend that lives in Africa and is a safari guide. He has tons of opportunity to take incredible photos, but has never had a “real camera”, only his phone.

I have an old Canon Rebel T2i I plan to give him, and was looking for a decent lens to pair it with. I found the Sigma 50-500, (I wanted him to have ONE lens with as much range as possible), it’s the Sigma Ex 50-500mm 4-6.3 APO lens for Canon (NOT OS).

After talking with the amazing woman selling it, and telling her why I wanted it, she ended up just giving it to me which was so awesome and generous!!

My question: the camera doesn’t have OS, the lens doesn’t have OS, is this THAT much of an issue? He will likely use bean bags on the roof of his truck. Or, if it IS an issue, what is the most affordable canon camera body that does have OS? I was looking at the T5 and T7, but I don’t know much about them.

I just want to give him a solid set up because - 1) he’s never had one 2) he will likely not have another one for a long time and 3) he won’t have send back/repair options.

What do you think? My budget for this is not great, so I’m not looking for the newest, nicest, just something that’s good and has what he needs :)

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I can see the dilemma: send him free a big lens without stabilization with an old, but free, camera, or look around for a more ideal system for him. My gut says; go with the the first choice. the woman gave that lens (which is $2k new!), with the intent that it be sent to your friend. It would be disingenuous to her not to. Send him the T2 to go with it. Remember, we did an awful lot of great photos with film before there was ever image stabilization. My guess is, your friend will get amazing photos with that system, and, if he ever needs to modify his kit, he'll figure that out on his own.